Telephonic switch



(No Model.)

P. RABBIDGE.

TELEPHONIG SWIIGH APPLIANCE. No. 489,266. Patented Jan. 3,1893.

R311 Fig/ 1 1 Fig/i Fay p ai (D! D, D

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PARNELL RABBIDGE, OF SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES.

TELEPHONIC SWITCH APPLIANCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 489,266, dated. January3, 1893. Application filed January 2, 1892- Serial No. 416,839. (Nomodel.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PARNELL RABBIDGE, of Sydney, in the Colony of NewSouth Vales, have invented new and useful Improvements in TelephonicSwitch Appliances, of which the following is a full, clear,--and exactdescription.

The objectof this invention is the construction of a simple andeffective switch appliance, whereby the electric current may be switchedfrom the ringing circuit, to the speaking cir cuit, or vice versa, fortelephonic purposes.

To facilitate description of myinvention, I annex drawings, showing howI accomplish my object, and I will herein refer to same as per figuresand lettering thereon.

Figures 1, 1 1, 1, and 1, represent the switch in a position which I forconvenience will consider normal. Figs. 2, 2 2, 2, and 2, represent theswitch in a position which I for convenience show in a reversedposition.

A is a receptacle; B the hollow space of A, part of which is occupied bymetallic mercury m.

C and C are plugs or studs of some non conducting material, throughwhich one or more conducting points or surfaces or and D, and a and dface or project into B. a D a and d or surfaces at and a are connectedby a conductor a either inside the receptacle as in Figs. 1, 1, 2 and 2or outside the receptacle as in Figs. 1, 1, 2 and 2 a, a are insulatedfrom D and d, and D and d from each other.

D, d and a are electrodes.

In Figs. 1 and 2, A is considered as being made of some conductingmaterial and acting as a conductor, having the electrodes a at tached.In Figs. 1, 1 and 2 2, A is also considered as being made of someconducting material; but not as being used as a conductor; in this casea and D and a and d are inserted into B through 0 and O acting in asimilar manner to a and D, and a and d in Figs. 1, 1, 2, 2, in which Ais considered as being made of some non-conducting material, preferablyglass, through which a, D, and a and d face or project into B.

WVhen the receptacle is in the position as shown in Figs. 1, 1", 1, 1,and 1, the mercury m is by its own gravitation at the bottom of B,connecting a with d (or A with cl as in Fig. 1). When reversing theposition of the receptacle as in Figs. 2, 2, 2, 2, and 2, the mercury mfalls to the other end of B thereby connecting a with D (or A with D asin Fig. 2) while breaking the connection between a and d (orAand d as inFig. 2). Thus it. will be seen that by altering the position of areceptacle containing a quantity of mercuryand constructed as described,the electric current may be switched from one circuit to another throughthe mercury gravitat-ing from one position to another.

This switch is to be used attached to a receiver or transmitter, so thatwhen the position of the receiver or transmitter is altered when inoperation the mercuryin the switch, by gravitation, makes and breaks thenecessary circuits from call to speaking apparatus.

As may readily be seen from the above description the shape and size ofthe receptacle, the material of which it is made and the relativeposition and the number of the contact surfaces or points may be variedto suit requirements, space and convenience, but the novelty of thisinvention for which I claim protection is:

1. In combination with a reversible vessel, insulated end plugs, a setof contacts D (1 extending through the plugs into the vessel, mercuryWithin the vessel, contacts a a and an electrical connection betweenthem, substantially described.

2. In combination with a reversible vessel, insulated end plugs, a pairof contacts in each end of the vessel, mercury within the vesselcontacts a a and a connection a within the vessel between the contacts aa, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twowitnesses.

PARNELL RABBIDGE. Witnesses:

W. WALKER,

Patent Agent, Sydney. GUSTAF DILLBERG,

E. E., Sydney.

